Past the Halfway Mark

It seems like yesterday when I had my first day with University of Illinois Extension in Effingham, Clay, Fayette, and Jasper Counties. In reality I am already halfway done with it! I have learned a great deal during my time here and I am looking forward to what the next half of my internship has to offer.

My main responsibility here at the extension office is to help whoever needs help and to gain as much experience and knowledge about the work place that I can. All of the staff is very helpful with teaching me what it is like to work with University of Illinois Extension and they enjoy letting me tag along with them on their educational programs. I have attended numerous programs and each one is different yet educational in their own way. For example, I attended one program on cake decorating where the kids each had their own cakes and they were provided with special tools so that they could decorate the cake to each individuals choosing. The kids had a blast and they learned a cool new skill that they will be able to use in the future.

Cows being prepared for the 4-H show

I have also done a great deal with preparation in the 4-H department for the upcoming county fairs. I have always been familiar with the county fair but I have never really thought about all the behind the scenes work that goes into a successfully running 4-H program. My jobs have included delegating judges to events and setting up a schedule for them to follow, contacting sponsors for trophies, making sure each winner receives a ribbon, and many more tasks. Since I am stationed in Effingham County I have been focusing on the Effingham County fair more than the other counties. I had the chance to attended the Jasper County fair for a day to watch the Dairy Show and to help with organizing the livestock auction later that evening. It was very neat to see all the hard work put into action.

Effingham County Best of Show Ribbon

My project for this summer is to promote the 4-H program to kids all across these four counties. The 4-H member numbers have been steady for the past 20 years but I would like to see an increase in size and so would the 4-H coordinator that I work closely with. I will be making broachers and flyers that the 4-H program can handout to kids at schools or churches or anywhere they please. When kids think of 4-H they think of farms and livestock. They think that if they do not live on a farm or if they do not own any livestock then they wouldn't be accepted into 4-H. This is completely false. 4-H is so much more than what it is believed to be. It is about developing a great work ethic and imagination at a young age. It is also about friendship and fun. I don't want kids to miss out on such a great organization because they believe that they have to live on a farm to be included.

Even though I have only been interning here at University of Illinois Extension in Effingham, Clay, Fayette, and Jasper Counties for half of my term, I have already learned more than I thought I ever would when I applied for this internship. I have enjoyed each day and I am looking forward to what the next half of the internship will entail!